Alberto Álvaro Ríos’ book The Smallest Muscle in the Human Body (Copper Canyon P, 2002) was a finalist for the National Book Award. He is the recipient of the Western Literature Association Distinguished Achievement Award. He is also the author of 10 books of poetry, three collections of short stories, and a memoir, Capirotada (U of New Mexico P, 1999), which won the Latino Literary Hall of Fame Award. His latest book of poems is The Dangerous Shirt (Copper Canyon P, 2009). Ríos has taught at Arizona State University for over 30 years.